The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-27
MATCHING a FORTUNE.
The Unsuccessful Venture of Two Youn;
Men Who Expected to Make Millions.

The Unsuccessful Venture of Two Youns
Men Who Expected to Make Millions.
There was a little town on the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad that
is now "a thriving, busting metropolis,
and the county seat of the rich county
Of SOcorro. Ninety miles distant are
the San Mateo Mountains, in which the
celebrated Block range lies. with its
former mining metropolis, called ChlOr-
ide. Five years ago, at a point midway
between these then baby camps, two
young men conceived the brilliant idea
of fortune, and at once put it into prac-
tice. On the side of clear stream OF
mountain water at the foot of hill that
shut off the cold winds of the north and
was sheltered by the surrounding hills
on all sides they built a cabin and a
chicken-hatching machine. Near tubes
or pipes kept well heated by oil they put
in place six thousand eggs for incuba-
ton. During the twenty-one days nee
essary for Matching they saw no one,
and avoided even the few Indians who
passed in solemn file through the trails
leading across the range. At night,
like the milkmaid in the story, they
counted how many chicks they would
hatch without the mother hens, how
many would die, and at what price they
would sell the remainder when large
enough to broil, to the hungry gold
hunters who, it was expected. would
swarm the new towns of SOcorrO, the
terminus of the railroad, and Chloride
the future Butte Of New Mexico.
Every dollar these two pioneers had
was invested in their grub. rude incu-
bator and many eggs, secured at great
cost and by various methods. They be-
came nervous as the twenty-one days
passed. One morning one ran breath
lessly into the cabin, where the other
was wiping the tin plates used at a
Enthusiastically meal with an old
pocket-handkerchief. and cried out:
They're coming; thousands of them
are coming. Heaven, we're rich!''
Plates were dropped, and to the
spring-chicken machine both hurried.
Sure enough. there they were. Little
hens and little ROSTERS of very tender
age, but SO bright and apparently
happy that the two boys fairly danced
and made the mountain hOllows ring
with their songs. Hungry coyotes
skulbed off, wondering what the mat
ter was.
Well, these two men were busy
enough now. Ninety per cent. of their
eggs, had, by the magic of oil and pipes,
become brood of fifty-four hundred
velvety little chicks that looked to them
for food, care and cover. 1t was Won
derful how in that wild land these
little birds thrived and grew The per-
centage of loss was singularly small.
They became vigorous out there in the
mountain air, where were no poisonous
surroundings to cause sickness and
death. In Il few weeks the two friends
had five thousand chicks that within
ten days would be ready for the hotel
and restaurant tables. They sat down
and planned. They fitted up with
coops the wagon they had; they brought
in the other horse from the hills and
made preparations for two trips weekly,
one of forty-fve miles to Sorocco and
return, the other forty-five miles to
Chloride and return, each trip going
out to be loaded with "broilers'' or
'stews" and returning with greenbacks
and gold. Never did two men feel
more light-hearted and apparently with
better cause. The five thousand chick
ems had cost them exactly twenty-three
cents apiece to raise, equal to S1,150.
They had expended several hundred in
preparations for Matching, feeding, etc.
The day for the first days marketing
came. One went with this first INSTALL
ment to the plaza of SOcorro, while the
other remained to watch, feed and house
the flock. Three days was the allotted
time for trip. Only at the expiration
Of the fourth did the wagner return.
He had lost money on the cargo o
''spring broilers." Next morning, with
five hundred more, the other partner,
Boosting his success at bargaining,
started for Chloride, to be gone three
lays. Promptly on the evening of the
third day he returned, bringing the
chickens with him! There was not Il hui
man being in Chloride-even the cabins
looked lonesome there. A council was
called. 1t consisted of the two men and
the chickens. The last had little to say
On the occasion. 1t was decided that
ono should go to Socorro and try to con-
tract the entire lot at cost, then, with
their original capital in hand, and swal-
lowing the loss of a seasons work. they
would .sstrike out for new fields. Early
next morning. mounted on the fastest
horse of the two in camp, the partner
started. Reaching SOcorrO, he saw that
it was unusually full of people, and his
heart leaped for joy. In ten minutes
after his arrival. however, he heard
erier yelling: kansas chickens, only
forty cents a pair, or twenty cents
apiecer' Inquiry disclosed the fact
that the Kansas people, where fowls are
almost grown without cost, had shipped
carloads to that market. The partner
spoke not a word to SOcOrro man.
Remouating, he rode back to the ''oil
hatchery" A short consultation was
held. 1t was determined to hurry out
of the country lest somebody should
come and take their horses. And then
these young men turned loose in those
mountains five thousand fine, fat spring
chickens. ready for the table, to become